Germany condemns Abu Sayyaf on beheading its citizen

BERLIN — The German government on Monday condemned the heinous act by the Philippine terror group Abu Sayyaf, which brutally killed a German citizen.

The Islamist extremists published a video showing the beheading process of the 70-year old man, Juergen Gustav Kantner.

Kantner was abducted in early November when he encountered the terrorist group. He was traveling with his partner Sabine Merz off Sabah in Malaysia. Merz was killed on the scene by the Islamist militants.

Abu Sayyaf had demanded a ransom of 30 million Philippine pesos (about 598,000 U.S. dollars) by Sunday. Both Philippine and German governments stuck to principle and did not give any money.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel condemned the act as “barbaric” and “abhorrent”, calling for a world united front against terrorism.

Government spokesman Steffen Seibert also expressed his shock, saying the incident once again showed unscrupulous and inhuman act.

The Philippine-based Abu Sayyaf group is believed to have links with the Islamic State militants in the Middle East. PNA/Xinhua-northboundasia.com